Choice-school transfer rule a winner

Sometimes the political process works efficiently - even in New Jersey.

The state's Choice School Program Act, which went into effect in 2010, allows students to transfer to a state-approved school within 20 miles of their home district, at no cost to parents. The goal of the program is to provide alternatives for families dissatisfied with their hometown school, while districts receiving students are motivated by the opportunity to boost low enrollment - and gain the funding that comes with it.

Not surprisingly, the program has been quickly abused, and not surprisingly, that exploitation had nothing to do with academics. Some of the designated choice districts - which will total more than 100 for the 2013-14 school year after beginning as a pilot program of 10 - have benefited greatly from the sudden influx of top athletes, raising complaints about active recruiting and an unfair competitive advantage.

For example, in Bound Brook, which can receive students under the program, five starting wrestlers and four starting boys basketball players during this past winter season were choice-school transfers. The wrestling team won its second straight Group I title, while the basketball team reached the Central Group I final. School officials have denied any orchestrated effort to attract athletes from other communities.

Fears about the unintended consequences of the program were present from the start, so much so that Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan, D-Middlesex, chairman of the Assembly Education Committee, was already conceding a year ago that it was an issue that might have to be addressed down the road. But he felt the state should "give it a year" before considering revisions.

That year has passed, and the need for revisions has become crystal clear. So guess what? State officials have acted, swiftly. Believe it or not. The Department of Education will now allow the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to impose a 30-day waiting period at the beginning of a sports season for any student-athlete transferring to high schools participating in the school-choice program. It's the same rule that applies to more conventional transfer students.

The NJSIAA anticipated the potential for recruiting abuse and wanted to impose the 30-day wait when the law first took effect. But Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf offered his objections, and the NJSIAA board felt compelled to go along with that "request."

Cerf's rationale was obvious; he works for an administration that is a big proponent of expanding school choices by whatever means possible, and he didn't want to do anything to discourage transfers and jeopardize the perceived success of the program. Top athletes figured to be at the leading edge of any such transfer movement, because of the interest of the schools receiving them.

Now, however, the unrest over the program's effects on athletic competition was threatening to undermine support, likely forcing the state's hand in allowing the waiting period. The new requirement won't eliminate recruiting efforts, but it will reduce to some degree the ability to bring in an athlete from another school expressly to boost a team's immediate prospects. The student-athletes themselves are also not unduly punished, since they'll still be able to play the sport of their choice after the waiting period, and can immediately avail themselves of the academic benefits that are supposed to be the primary reason for the move.

So it's a win all around - except for those schools who were successfully abusing the system. They, however, deserve a loss.

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Choice-school transfer rule a winner

Sometimes the political process works efficiently ? even in New Jersey.

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